Method for producing glycoprotein having mannose residue as non-reducing end of sugar chain

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method for producing a glycoprotein using mammalian cells, wherein all or part of the non-reducing ends of N-glycoside binding sugar chains are mannose residues. The method is a method for producing glycoproteins using transformant mammalian cells which are prepared by introducing thereinto a β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene and inducing its expression.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method of producing glycoproteins which have mannose residues at non-reducing ends of their sugar chains, using mammalian cells.

BACKGROUND ART

In mammalian cells, N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains of glycoproteins are those attached to asparagine residues of the proteins, through a complex pathway involving various enzymes, while the proteins, after translated from RNA, are transferred through the lumen of an endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi bodies. The major types of N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains are complex-type sugar chains and high mannose-type sugar chains. High mannose-type sugar chains are mainly of the structure represented by structural formula 1 below. Complex-type sugar chains, while there are various types of them, are characterized in that their non-reducing ends consist of sialic acid residues. An example of them is shown in structural formula 2 below. The region shown by structural formula 3 below, which is common to both complex-type and high mannose-type sugar chains, is called the core region.

High mannose-type and complex-type sugar chains are biosynthesized as follows. First, dolichol-P—P-GlcNAc₂Man₉Glc₃, an intermediate which includes two N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), nine mannose (Man), and three glucose (Glc) residues, is transferred, by an oligosaccharyltransferase complex, to an asparagine residue of a protein being synthesized by translation in the lumen of an endoplasmic reticulum, and attached as a sugar chain represented by structural formula 4 below.

In the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum, then, from the non-reducing end of the sugar chain of structural formula 4 are removed three Glc's by glucosidase and then one Man by ER mannosidase, which leaves the sugar chain having a structure represented by structural formula 5 below.

This glycoprotein then is transferred to Goldi bodies, where Golgi mannosidase I removes three Man's from the sugar chain of structural formula 5, leaving the high mannose-type sugar chain of structural formula 1 shown above, in which two Man's bind to the core region.

Complex-type sugar chains are formed in Golgi bodies by additional modifications on the high mannose-type sugar chain. Namely, the route through which the complex-type sugar chain of structural formula 2 is formed is as follows. First, one GlcNAc is bound to the high mannose-type sugar chain (structural formula 1) by N-acetylglucosamine transferase I, forming a sugar chain of the structure shown by structure formula 6 below. Two Man's then are removed by Golgi mannosidase II, which leaves the sugar chain structure shown by structural formula 7 below, in which one GlcNAc binds to the core region.

Then, two GlcNAc, three galactose (Gal), and three sialic acid (Sia) residues are bound to it to form the complex-type sugar chain of structural formula 2. Other complex-type sugar chains also exist in which a fucose residue is bound to the GlcNAc molecules that binds directly to the asparagine residue.

If mammalian cells, such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO cells), are used in producing a recombinant glycoprotein, many of the sugar chains of the protein thus obtained will be a complex-type in their structure, and sialic acid residues thus will occur at the non-reducing ends of the sugar chains of such a recombinant glycoprotein. It is known that stability in the blood of a recombinant protein administered to a body is increased if complex-type sugar chains, which have a sialic acid residues at their non-reducing ends, are attached to the protein (cf. Patent Document 1). Thus, when recombinant glycoproteins are produced which exhibit their effects while circulating in the blood, production methods using CHO cells are utilized, with which sugar chains are produced having sialic acid residues at their non-reducing ends, expecting elongation of their half-lives in the blood, and thereby augmentation of their pharmacological effects. Erythropoietin and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are typical examples of such recombinant glycoproteins (cf. Patent Documents 2 and 3).

Some of recombinant glycoproteins, however, having sugar chains of a complex-type would be rather disadvantageous. Among then, for example, are a group of enzymes, such as glucocerebrosidase, which are administered to patients in enzyme replacement therapy for lysosomal storage diseases. To be effective, such enzymes must be taken up into cells following their administration to a body. Their cellular uptake is made via mannose receptors expressed on the cell membrane of target cells (cf. Non-patent Document 1). And, for glycoproteins to be taken up via the mannose receptors, the structure of sugar chains of the glycoproteins must be that of the high mannose-type sugar chain, whose non-reducing ends consist of mannose residues. Therefore, in such enzyme replacement therapy, enzymes whose sugar chains are of a complex-type cannot be employed.

Besides, as for a drug which is required to have a short half-life in blood, it is not desirable that the drug should have non-reducing ends which are those of complex-type sugar chains, because they would increase its stability in blood. In such a case, too, the sugar chains are required to be of a high mannose-type.

Thus, attempts have been made to establish a method for producing glycoproteins having high mannose-type sugar chains. For example, there is a method in which glycoproteins are once produced with complex-type sugar chains using mammalian cells, and then treated with three enzymes, sialidase, β-galactosidase, and hexosaminidase, to remove sialic acid, galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine residues from the non-reducing ends, thereby leaving mannose residues behind at the non-reducing ends. A glucocerebrosidase pharmaceutical preparation for treatment of Gaucher's disease currently marketed by Genzyme Corp. (product name: Cerezyme® Injection 200; cf. Non-patent Document 2) is produced by this method. However, as it requires the additional processes of enzyme treatment, this method involves problems of complexity and increased costs.

There is also known a method, in which mammalian cells are cultured in the presence of kifunesine when inducing the cells to express a glycoprotein (cf. Patent document 4). As kifunesine is an inhibitor of ER mannosidase, it terminates the modification process of sugar chains following removal of a glucose residue by glucosidase, just before the step by ER mannosidase, providing as a result a glycoprotein having a sugar chain with the structure shown by structural formula 8 below, which has three mannose residues at its non-reducing ends. This method, however, has drawbacks, such as safety concern of the final product, for an enzyme inhibitor must be added in the process of its synthesis.

Further, there is known still another method, in which LEC-1 cells, CHO mutant cells lacking N-acetylglucosamine transferase I activity, are used (cf. Non-patent Document 3). N-acetylglucosamine transferase is an enzyme which catalyzes the early reaction in the pathway through which complex-type sugar chains are synthesized starting with the high mannose-type sugar chain, and binds one GlcNAc residue to the high mannose-type sugar chain (structural formula 1) to give rise to the sugar chain of the structure shown by structural formula 6 above. Because of the lack of this enzyme, LEC-1 cells do not produce complex-type sugar chains from the high mannose-type sugar chain, thus giving glycoproteins having the structure of the high mannose-type sugar chain. However, the method of production of glycoproteins utilizing LEC-1 cells is not productive enough (Non-patent Document 4).

An expression system using insect cells is known for a method of producing glycoproteins having mannose residues at their non-reducing ends (cf. Patent Document 5). It is known that insect cells produce glycoproteins having N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains shown by the structural formula 3 above (paucimannose-type sugar chains), formed of two GlcNAc's and three Man's (cf. Non-patent Document 5). That is, in insect cells, a pathway is dominant in which GlcNAc at the non-reducing end in structural formula 7 is removed by β-N-acetylglucosaminidase to leave the paucimannose-type sugar chain behind, thus giving glycoproteins having mannose residues at the non-reducing end (cf. Non-patent Document 6).

An expression system using cabbage armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)-derived cells (Sf-9, etc.) is one of common expression systems utilizing insect cells (Patent Document 6). It is known that Spodoptera frugiperda has three types of β-N-acetylglucosaminidases; β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 1, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 (cf. Non-patent Documents 7 and 8), and SfFDL (cf. Patent Document 7), which are enzymes with activity to remove GlcNAc from non-reducing ends of sugar chains. Another enzyme having similar activity, e.g., BmFDL, is also isolated from silk worm (Bombyx mori) (Non-patent Document 9). However, as there are definite species differences between insect cells and mammalian cells (in particular human cells), employment of insect cells in production of medical drugs is thought to be undesirable because of concerns about various influences which the product would have received in the process of its biosynthesis in insect cells.

In addition, an expression system using plant-derived cells is known as a method using cells other than mammalian cells for for production of glycoproteins having mannose residues at the non-reducing ends, (Patent Document 8).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

[Patent Document 1] JP Patent Application Publication No. H08-027181

[Patent Document 2] JP Patent Application Publication No. 2004-525342

[Patent Document 3] WO 2009/127826

[Patent Document 4] JP Patent Application Publication No. 2004-506438

[Patent Document 5] JP Patent Application Publication No. 2009-225781

[Patent Document 6] JP Patent Application Publication No. H02-291270

[Patent Document 7] WO 2009/079376

[Patent Document 8] JP Patent Application Publication No. 2006-524506

NON-PATENT DOCUMENTS

[Non-patent Document 1] Sato Y. et al., J Clin Invest. (1993) 91, 1909-17

[Non-patent Document 2] Cerezyme Injection 200, Package Insert

[Non-patent Document 3] Ripka J. et al., J Cell Biochem. (1990) 42, 117-22

[Non-patent Document 4] Van Patten S M. et al., Glycobiology (2007) 17, 467-78

[Non-patent Document 5] Watanabe S. et al., J Biol Chem. (2002) 277, 5090-3

[Non-patent Document 6] Altmann F. et al., J Biol Chem. (1995) 270, 17344-9

[Non-patent Document 7] Tomiya N. et al., J Biol Chem. (2006) 281, 19545-60

[Non-patent Document 8] Aumiller J J. et al., Prot. Expr. Purif. (2006) 47, 571-90

[Non-patent Document 9] Nomura T. Et al., J Biosci Bioeng. (2010) 110, 386-91

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Against the above-background, the objective of the present invention is to provide a novel method for production of recombinant glycoproteins having mannose residues at the non-reducing ends of their N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains, using mammalian cells, esp. CHO cells.

In the study directed to the above objective, the present inventors attempted to introduce into mammalian cells a system of insect cells in which the high mannose-type sugar chains are dominantly synthesized. As a result, the inventors surprisingly found that recombinant glycoproteins are obtained that have mannose residues at the non-reducing ends of their N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains, by using transformant mammalian cells which were prepared by introducing a β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene into mammalian cells to let the gene express itself.

Thus, the present invention provides what follows.

(1) A transformant mammalian cell having an exogenous β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene introduced and allowed to express itself therein.

(2) The transformant mammalian cell according to (1) above, wherein β-N-acetylglucosaminidase expressed following introduction of the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene exhibits the activity thereof in Golgi bodies.

(3) The transformant mammalian cell according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene is of insect origin.

(4) The transformant mammalian cell according to (3) above, wherein the insect is an insect of Lepidoptera.

(5) The transformant mammalian cell according to (4) above, wherein the insect of Lepidoptera is Spodoptera frugiperda or Bombyx mori.

(6) The transformant mammalian cell according to (5) above, wherein the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene is one or more genes selected from the group consisting of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 1 gene, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 gene, SfFDL gene, and BmFDL gene.

(7) The transformant mammalian cell according to one of (1) to (6) above having an exogenous gene encoding a predetermined glycoprotein further introduced and allowed to express itself so as to produced the predetermined glycoprotein.

(8) The transformant mammalian cell according to (7) above, wherein the exogenous gene encoding the predetermined glycoprotein is a gene of human origin.

(9) The transformant mammalian cell according to (8) above, wherein the gene of human origin is a gene encoding a lysosomal enzyme.

(10) The transformant mammalian cell according to (9) above, wherein the lysosomal enzyme is selected from the group consisting of glucocerebrosidase, acid sphingomyelinase, lysosomal acid lipase, acid α-glucosidase, N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, α-L-iduronidase, α-galactosidase A, hexosaminidase, α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, α-mannosidase, and sialidase.

(11) The transformant mammalian cell according to (9) above, wherein the lysosomal enzyme is glucocerebrosidase.

(12) A method for production of a glycoprotein having N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains, wherein all or part of the non-reducing ends of the sugar chains comprise mannose residues, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) culturing the mammalian cell according to one of (1) to (6) above in a medium to allow the glycoprotein be expressed, and

(b) purifying the glycoprotein expressed in (a) above.

(13) The method for production according to (12) above, wherein the mammalian cell according to (7) above is employed instead of the cell according to one of (1) to (6) above.

(14) The method for production according to (13) above, wherein the exogenous gene encoding the glycoprotein is a gene of human origin.

(15) The method for production according to (14) above, wherein the gene of human origin is a gene encoding a lysosomal enzyme.

(16) The method for production according to (15) above, wherein the lysosomal enzyme is selected from the group consisting of glucocerebrosidase, acid sphingomyelinase, lysosomal acid lipase, acid α-glucosidase, N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, α-L-iduronidase, α-galactosidase A, hexosaminidase, α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, α-mannosidase, and sialidase.

(17) The method for production according to (15) above, wherein the lysosomal enzyme is glucocerebrosidase.

Effect of Invention

Mammalian cells transformed with an insect β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene according to the present invention are modified in their characteristics in such a manner that mannose residues occur at an increased proportion in the non-reducing ends of the N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains of glycoproteins produced by the cells. Therefore, the cells produces their original, intrinsic glycoproteins in a modified form in which at least part of, or all of, the non-reducing ends of their N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains are mannose residues. Further, the transformant mammalian cells, if employed, instead of natural mammalian cells, for expression of an introduced exogenous glycoprotein gene, allows production of the glycoprotein in such a form which were unavailable using natural mammalian cells, namely, in the form that the non-reducing ends of its sugar chains consist partly, or more frequently, of mannose residues, or preferably entirely of mannose residues.

Thus, the present invention enables production of glycoproteins with an increased proportion of mannose residues occurring at the non-reducing ends of their N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains, without employing insect cells. Glycoproteins so far produced using mammalian cells had complex-type sugar chains as their N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains and therefore had to be further treated with enzymes so that mannose residues come to occur at the non-reducing ends of the sugar chains. In contrast, the present invention enables direct production of glycoproteins in which all or part of the non-reducing ends of their N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains consist of mannose residues. According to the method of the present invention, therefore, glycoproteins having mannose residues as the non-reducing ends of their N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains can be obtained more efficiently and more easily than before. Further, glycoproteins obtained according to the present invention are useful as such medicaments that must be taken up by target cells via mannose receptors on the cells or which must have a short half life in blood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1-1] A flow diagram of the method for constructing pE-neo vector is shown.

[FIG. 1-2] A flow diagram of the method for constructing pE-neo vector is shown.

[FIG. 2-1] A flow diagram of the method for constructing pE-hygr vector is shown.

[FIG. 2-2] A flow diagram of the method for constructing pE-hygr Vector is shown.

[FIG. 2-3] A flow diagram of the method for constructing pE-hygr Vector is shown.

[FIG. 3] A figure showing the patterns of electrophoretic migration of glucocerebrosidase (GBA). (Lane 1: culture supernatant of GBA expressing cells, Lanes 2-4: culture supernatant of GBA expressing cells sequentially treated with sialidase, β1,4-galactosidase, and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, Lane 5: culture supernatant of GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells)

[FIG. 4] A figure showing the results of measurement of the amount of cellular uptake by macrophages of glucocerebrosidase (GBA) obtained from GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells. Graph 1 shows cellular uptake of GBA obtained from GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells, Graph 2 of GBA obtained from GBA expressing cells, and Graph 3 of GBA obtained from GBA expressing cells and subjected to trimming of its sugar chains with enzymes, respectively. Graphs 4-6 show cellular uptake, in the presence of mannan, of GBA obtained from GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells, GBA obtained GBA expressing cells, and GBA obtained from GBA expressing cells and subjected to trimming of its sugar chains with enzymes, respectively. The vertical axis shows the amount of GBA taken up by the cells (% of control), and the horizontal axis the concentration of GBA (mU/mL), respectively.

[FIG. 5] A figure showing the pattern of electrophoresis migration of glucocerebrosidase (GBA) obtained from GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells. The arrowhead indicates the band corresponding to GBA. (lane M was loaded with molecular weight marker, lane 1 supernatant of the culture of GBA expressing cells, lane 2 supernatant of the culture of GBA/Sf-FDL expressing cells, lane 3 supernatant of the culture of GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells, respectively)

[FIG. 6] A figure showing the result of measurement of the amount of cellular uptake of glucocerebrosidase (GBA) obtained from the supernatant of the culture of GBA/Sf-FDL expressing cells and GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells. Graph 1 shows the amount or cellular uptake of GBA obtained from GBA/Sf-FDL expressing cells, Graph 2 GBA obtained from GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells, Graph 3 GBA obtained from GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells, respectively. Graphs 4-6 show the amount of cellular uptake of GBA obtained from GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells, GBA obtained from GBA/Sf-FDL expressing cells, and GBA obtained from GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells, respectively, in the presence of mannan. The vertical axis indicates the amount of GBA taken up by cells (% of control), and horizontal axis the GBA concentration (mU/mL), respectively.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the present invention, the term “mammalian animal” includes, without particular limitation, any mammalian animals, but preferably represents primates such as human, African green monkey, and the like; rodents such as mouse, rat, Chinese hamster, and the like; rabbit, and canine. The term “mammalian cells” includes, without particular limitation, any cells derived from a mammalian animal, either primary or subcultured cells, collected from an organ taken out of the body, or from muscle tissue, skin, connective tissue, nerve tissue, blood, bone marrow, and the like, or their cell lines established so as to keep their characteristics through repeated subcultures. Further, those cells may be either normal cells or cells which have become cancerous. Cells which can be used particularly preferably are CHO cells, derived from the ovary of a Chinese hamster, human fibroblasts, and COS cells, derived from the renal fibroblast of an African green monkey.

In the present invention, the term “β-N-acetylglucosaminidase” means an enzyme that has an activity of releasing β-glycosidic-bond-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues occurring at the non-reducing ends of sugar chains (e.g., the N-acetylglucosamine occurring at the non-reducing end in the structural formula 6 or 7). There is no particular limitation as to the gene itself that encodes β-N-acetylglucosaminidase insofar as the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase encoded by the gene has the activity defined above. For example, any of such genes may be employed, either wild-type genes originating directly from organisms, or mutant-type genes obtained through introduction of mutation such as substitution, insertion, or deletion of one or more nucleotides of those wild-type genes, or artificially designed genes. Further, there is no particular limitation as to species of the organisms, and such genes originating from any organisms including mammal may be employed, among which preferred are, for example, insects of Lepidoptera, such as silk worm (Bombyx mori), cabbage armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), and measuring worm (Geometridae); those of Diptera, such as drosophila (Drosophila); prokaryotes, such as bacillus; nematodes; yeasts; actinomycetes; ascomycetes; basidiomycete; and plants. Among these, preferred are genes originating from insects, in particular those of Lepidoptera, and most particularly silk worm and cabbage armyworm.

Examples of useful β-N-acetylglucosaminidase genes originating from organisms include, e.g., β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 1 and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 genes, and SfFDL gene originating from cabbage armyworm; BmFDL gene originating from silk worm. A β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene constructed by fusion of fragments of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase genes from two or more organisms could also be used.

In the present invention, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase to be expressed in mammalian cells acts as an enzyme which releases N-acetylglucosamine residues occurring at the non-reducing end in, for example, the above structural formula 6 and structural formula 7, in the synthetic pathway of N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains in the cells. Therefore, it is desirable that the enzyme exhibits its activity in the Golgi bodies, the organelle where the N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains are synthesized in mammalian cells.

It is known that proteins which are localized in these organelles in mammalian cells generally have a localization signal within their amino acid sequences. Therefore, a β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene introduced according to the present invention may be a chimeric β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene constructed by fusing a gene fragment encoding the enzymatic active site of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase with a gene fragment encoding the localization signal of some other protein, in order to localize it to the organelles more efficiently.

In the present invention, as transformation of mammalian cells with β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene is performed for the purpose of making the mammalian cells express the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, any method may be employed for the transformation as long as it meets this purpose. In general, the transformation may be carried out by introducing an expression vector with an incorporated β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene into mammalian cells. There is no particular limitation as to such a expression vector to be employed so long as it can express a β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene in the mammalian cells to which it is introduced. Generally, an expression vector is an circular plasmid, which is introduced into cells either without alteration of its circular configuration or after cut open with a restriction enzyme. A β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene is incorporated into an expression vector which can regulates expression of the gene, downstream of its promoter, so that the gene is expressed in the mammalian cells. Promoters which may be utilized may be those derived from cytomegalovirus (CMV), SV40 early promoter, elongation factor 1 (EF-1) promoter, and the like.

Alternatively, the above transformation may be performed, for example, through fusion of a mammalian cell with a cell, e.g., an insect cell which expresses β-N-acetylglucosaminidase. In the present specification, a mammalian cell thus prepared by fusion is also included in a mammalian cell transformed with β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene. Besides, the mammalian cell may be transformed not only with a single β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene or but with two or more different β-N-acetylglucosaminidase genes.

In the present invention, transformation of mammalian cells with an exogenous gene encoding a glycoprotein is performed so that the glycoprotein is produced by the mammalian cells, and therefore it may be performed by any method so long as this purpose is met. Such transformation may be performed in a similar manner as the transformation of mammalian cells described above with the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene.

In the present invention, while there is no particular limitation as to exogenous genes encoding a glycoproteins to be incorporated into an expression vector, they are preferably genes encoding such glycoproteins as have to be taken up by cells via their mannose receptors after they are administered to a body, and most preferably are genes encoding lysosomal enzymes, such as glucocerebrosidase, acid sphingomyelinase (sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase), and the like. A glucocerebrosidase obtained by the method for production according to the present invention may be used in enzyme replacement therapy of patients with Gaucher's disease, acid sphingomyelinase patients with Niemann-Pick disease, lysosomal acid lipase patients with Wolman disease, acid α-glucosidase (acid maltase) patients with Pompe disease, N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase patients with Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome, iduronate-2-sulfatase patients with Hunter syndrome, α-L-iduronidase patients with Hurler syndrome, and α-galactosidase A patients with Fabry disease, respectively. Besides, the method for production according to the present invention may be utilized to produce enzymes, such as hexosaminidase, α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, α-mannosidase, sialidase, and the like.

In addition, production of a glycoprotein using mammalian cells may be performed not by introduction of an exogenous gene, but by inducing an increased expression of the intrinsic gene encoding a glycoproteins of interest in mammalian cells having a capacity of producing the glycoprotein. The term “intrinsic gene” referred to herein means a gene which is originally on the genome of the mammalian cells employed. There is no particular limitation as to the method by which to induce an increased expression of an intrinsic gene, and any of well-known methods may be employed as desired. They include, for example, a method in which a cytomegalovirus (CMV)-derived promoter is introduced in the intrinsic gene at its expression regulating site, by homologous recombination (WO 94/12650); a method in which a compound which acts on the expression regulating site of a particular intrinsic gene to increase the amount of its expression, such as a hormone, growth factor, vitamin, cytokine, interleukin, or the like, is added to the culture medium. For example, a steroid hormone, thyroid hormone, retinoic acid, vitamin B, and the like are capable of activating, via their respective receptors, an intrinsic gene which has a hormone-responding sequence at its expression regulating-site to increase the amount of its expression.

As a glycoprotein obtained by the present invention has mannose residues as at least part or all of the residues occurring at the non-reducing ends of the N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chain, the glycoprotein is not only taken up by cells through their mannose receptors but also exhibits altered stability and dynamics in the blood when administered to the body as compared with a N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chain which is of a complex-type. Therefore, the present invention may also be utilized to alter the stability in the body, and the dynamics in the blood, of a glycoprotein. Namely, while the sialic acid residues occurring at the non-reducing ends of complex-type sugar chains have an effect of enhancing stability of the glycoproteins in the body, the present invention can be utilized, for example, to obtain a glycoprotein having a shorter half life in the blood when administered to the body. If a medicament with which a side effect is anticipated remains in the body for an elongated period of time, development of the side effect might be promoted. In such a case, a medicament comprising a glycoprotein with the shorter half life can be produced using the present invention.

While the present invention is described in further detail with reference to the examples, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the examples.

[Construction of pE-neo Vector and pE-hygr Vector]

pEF/myc/nuc vector (Invitrogen) was digested with KpnI and NcoI to cut out a region which includes EF-1α promoter and its first intron. This was blunt-ended with T4 DNA polymerase. pCl-neo (Invitrogen), after digested with BglII and EcoRI to remove a region containing CMV enhancer/promoter and introns, was blunt-ended with T4 DNA polymerase. Into this was inserted the region including EF-1α promoter and its first intron mentioned above to construct pE-neo vector (FIG. 1-1 and FIG. 1-2).

pE-neo vector was digested with SfiI and BstXI to cut off a region of about 1 kbp containing neomycin-resistant gene (FIG. 2-1). Hygromycin gene was amplified by PCR using pcDNA3.1/Hygro(+) (Invitrogen) as a template and primer Hyg-Sfi (5′-GAGGCCGCCTCGGCCTCTGA-3′; SEQ ID NO:1) and primer Hyg-BstX (5′-AACCATCGTGATGGGTGCTATTCCTTTGC-3′; SEQ ID NO:2) (FIG. 2-2). Hygromycin genes thus amplified then was digested with SfiI and BstXI and inserted into pE-neo vector mentioned above to construct pE-hygr vector (FIG. 2-3).

[Construction of Glucocerebrosidase-Expressing Cells]

Glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA gene) was amplified by PCR using human placenta cDNA library A (TAKARA) as a template and primer GBA-Mlu (5′-GCAATACGCGTCCGCCACCATGGAGTTTTCAAGTCCTTCCAGAGAGG-3′; SEQ ID NO:3) and primer GBA-Not (5′-GGACGCGGCCGCGAGCTCTCACTGGCGACGCCACAGGTAGG-3′; SEQ ID NO:4). The gene thus amplified was digested with restriction enzymes (MluI and NotI), inserted into pCI-neo (Promega) between its MluI and NotI sites, and the vector thus obtained was designated pCI-neo(GBA). After having checked that no mutation occurred in the nucleotide sequence of GBA gene introduced into pCI-neo on a DNA sequencer (ABI), pCI-neo(GBA) was digested with restriction enzymes (MluI and NotI) to cut out GBA gene. The GBA gene thus cut out was inserted into the above-constructed expression vector, pE-neo, between its MluI and NotI sites, and the vector thus obtained was designated GBA expression vector [pE-neo(GBA)]. CHO-K1 cells, after transformed with pE-neo(GBA) using lipofectamin 2000 reagent (Invitrogen), were subjected to selective culture in CD Opti CHO medium (Invitrogen) containing G418 to select glucocerebrosidase-expressing cells (GBA-expressing cells).

[Construction of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 Expression Plasmid]

Using QuickPrep Total RNA Extraction Kit (Amersham Pharmacia), total RNA was extracted from Sf9 cells (Invitrogen), which originated from Spodoptera frugiperda, and a reverse transcription reaction was performed using an oligo dT, as a primer, and SuperScript Choice System for cDNA Synthesis (GIBCO BRL). Using the reverse transcript obtained as a template, PCR was performed using primer sets: primer N-AGase5′-Sal (5′-CCGGTCGACCATGTTACGGCACGTAATATTGTTATTCG-3′; SEQ ID NO:5) and primer N-AGase5′-Mlu (5′-ACCAATCAGTTTATAGGTGAT-3′; SEQ ID NO:6); and primer N-AGase3′-Mlu (5′-GAAGTACACCCACAGAGGTC-3′; SEQ ID NO:7) and primer N-AGase3′-Not (5′-GCTTGCGGCCGCCTAAAAGTAATTCCCTGTTACGCAAAATCC-3′; SEQ ID NO:8), two halves, 5′-side and 3′-side, of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 gene were separately amplified. The 5′-side DNA fragment thus obtained was digested with restriction enzymes (SalI and MluI), and the 3′-side DNA fragment with restriction enzymes (MluI and NotI). The 5′-side DNA fragment thus obtained was inserted into pCI-neo between its SalI and MluI sites, and the 3′-side DNA fragment into pCI-neo between its MluI and NotI sites, and the products thus obtained were designated pCI-neo(N-AGase5′) and pCI-neo(N-AGase3′), respectively. After having checked, on a DNA sequencer (ABI), that the fragments of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 gene introduced into pCI-neo were free of mutations in their nucleotide sequences, pCI-neo(N-AGase5′) was digested with SalI and MluI, and pCI-neo(N-AGase3′) with MluI and NotI, respectively, to cut out the 5′-side DNA fragment and 3′-side DNA fragment. The 5′-side DNA fragment and 3′-side DNA fragment then were incorporated into pBluescript SK(−) (Toyobo) between its SalI and NotI sites so that the full length β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 gene was reconstructed. The product thus obtained was designated pBSK(N-AGase). pBSK(N-AGase) was digested with SalI and NotI to cut out β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 gene, which then was inserted into the expression vector pE-hygr constructed above between its SalI and NotI sites. The product thus obtained was designated, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 gene expression plasmid [pE-hygr (N-AGase)].

[Introduction of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 Gene into GBA Expression Cells]

pE-hygr(N-AGase) was introduced into GBA expressing cells by electroporation, and the cells then were subjected selective culture in CD Opti CHO medium containing 200 μM hygromycin and 500 μg /mL G418. This gave GBA expressing cells which were transformed with β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 gene.

[Selective Culture with Kidney Bean Lectin (PHA-L4 and PHA-E4)]

Kidney bean lectin has two subunits, L and E-types. L-type subunit recognizes tetraantennary complex-type sugar chains, and E-type subunit bisecting diantennary complex-type sugar chains. PHA-L4 is a isolectin which is a tetramer consisting of L-type subunits alone, and PHA-E4 of E-type subunits alone. When cells are treated with high concentrations of them, these lectins bind to the cells via membrane proteins having complex-type sugar chains that have sialic acid residues at their non-reducing ends, and the cells are killed as a result. Further, lectins cross-link the cells to make them aggregate. On the other hand, if the sugar chains of membrane proteins are modified so as to have mannose residues at their non-reducing ends, lectins can no longer bind to the cells and thus the cells can grow. The above transformant cells, which were obtained by introduction of pE-hygr(N-AGase) into GBA expressing cells by electroporation, followed by selective culture, were cultured in CD Opti CHO medium containing 12 μg/mL PHA-L4 (J Oil Mills) and 12 μg/mL PHA-E4 (J Oil Mills). Thus, among the transformant cells, those which expressed complex-type sugar chains were annihilated and aggregated, which allowed collection of non-aggregated cells. The non-aggregated cells collected were designated GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells.

[Analysis of Structure of Sugar Chain by Western Blotting]

About 10 μL each of the culture supernatants of the GBA expressing cells and the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells were subjected to SDS-PAGE electrophoresis (10% gel), and after completion of the run, transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane. GBA transferred onto the nitrocellulose membrane was detected using a rabbit anti-human GBA antibody as the primary antibody and a labeled anti-rabbit IgG antibody as the secondary antibody. Comparison was made between the patterns of electrophoretic migration of GBA contained in the culture supernatant of the GBA expressing cells and the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells, which revealed an increase in the migration distance corresponding to a lowered molecular weight of the latter as compared with the former (FIG. 3, lanes 1 and 5). As the structure of the sugar chain of the GBA contained in the culture supernatant of the GBA expressing cells was thought to be that of a complex-type sugar chain which has sialic acid residues at their non-reducing ends, sialidase (New England Biolabs), β1,4-galactosidase (New England Biolabs), and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (New England Biolabs) were added in sequence. As a result, increase in migration distance in electrophoresis corresponding to lowered molecular weight was observed as each of these enzymes was added to the culture supernatant one by one (FIG. 3, lanes 2-4). Sialidase, β1,4-galactosidase, and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase have activities to remove sialic acid, galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine, respectively, from non-reducing ends of sugar chains. Therefore, the result indicates that the structure of the sugar chain of GBA contained in the culture supernatant of the GBA expressing cells was that of a complex-type sugar chain. And the band of GBA treated with β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (FIG. 3, lane 4) exhibits a pattern of electrophoretic migration of GBA having a sugar chain whose non-reducing ends had been altered to mannose residues. Comparison of this band of the GBA which had been treated with β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (FIG. 3, lane 4) and the band of the GBA contained in the culture supernatant of the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expression cells (FIG. 3, lane 5) shows that they exhibited approximately the same migration patterns. The result suggests that the sugar chain of the GBA expressed in the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells was not a complex-type sugar chain having sialic acids at their non-reducing ends, but a sugar chain that had mannose residues at its non-reducing ends. Thus the result indicates that the non-mammalian, insect-originating β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 introduced into mammalian cells exhibits its activity in Golgi bodies and functions as an enzyme that removes N-acetylgalactosamine residues at the non-reducing ends, thereby turning the non-reducing ends of the sugar chain to mannose residues, during the process of glycosylation of GBA. There has been no report that non-mammalian, insect-originating β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 also functions in mammalian cells like this.

[Purification of Glucocerebrosidase—1st Process (Reverse-Phase Column Chromatography)]

The GBA expressing cells and the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells were separately cultured, and glucocerebrosidase was purified from each of the cultures according to the following procedure. First, the culture supernatant was collected by centrifugation of the culture. To the culture supernatant, after filtered through a membrane filter, were added ethylene glycol, 1 M DTT, and 250 mM sodium acetate (pH 4.8) so that their final concentrations were 20% for ethylene glycol, 5 mM for DTT, and 50 mM sodium acetate. After application of the culture supernatant to a HiTrap Phenyl Sepharose FF 5 mL column (GE Healthcare) equilibrated with a binding buffer [50 mM sodium acetate (pH 4.8), 20% ethylene glycol], the column was washed with 10 column volumes of the binding buffer. Then, glucocerebrosidase was eluted with 6 column volumes of an eluant given a linear gradient in which the mixing ratio of the binding buffer/elusion buffer [50 mM sodium acetate (pH 4.8), 20% ethylene glycol, 50% ethanol] was changed from 100/0 to 0/100. The activity of the fractions of the eluate was measured by the method described below, and GBA active fractions were collected. Flow rate was set at 1.5 mL/min in all the cases.

[Purification of Glucocerebrosidase—2nd Process (Cation-Exchange Column Chromatography)]

The fractions collected above in the 1st process was diluted by addition of an equal volume of purified water, and to this were further added ethylene glycol, 1 M DTT, and 250 mM sodium acetate (pH 4.8) so that their final concentrations were 20% for ethylene glycol, 5 mM for DTT, and 50 mM for sodium acetate. After application of the above fractions to a HiTrap CM-Sepharose FF 1 mL column (GE Healthcare) equilibrated with a washing buffer [30 mM sodium acetate (pH 5.6), 0.01% Tween 80], the column was washed with 10 column volumes (10 mL) of the washing buffer. Then, glucocerebrosidase was eluted with 8 column volumes of an eluant given a linear gradient in which the mixing ration of buffer A [50 mM citric acid, 0.01% Tween 80]/buffer B [50 mM sodium citrate, 0.01% Tween 80] was changed from 75:25 to 4:96, and then with 5 column volumes of an eluant in which the mixing ration of buffer A/buffer B was fixed to 4:96. The eluate was collected 1 mL each and to this 1 M mannitol was admixed. GBA activity of each fraction was measured by a method described below, and GBA active fractions were collected. Flow rate was set at 1.5 mL/min in all the cases.

[Measurement of GBA Activity]

GBA activity was measured with reference to the method described in Pasmanik-Chor M. et al., Biochem J 317, 81-88 (1996). Namely, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (4-MUF, Sigma Chemical Co.) was dissolved in a dilution buffer [100 mM potassium phosphate buffer containing 0.125% Na-taurocholate, 0.15% Triton X-100, and 0.1% bovine serum albumin (pH 5.96)], and diluted stepwise to prepare standard solutions with its concentrations adjusted to 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, and 3.125 mM. A substrate solution was prepared by dissolving 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (Sigma Chemical Co.) at a concentration of 4 mM. Samples were diluted, if needed, with the dilution buffer before measurement. Ten μL each of the 4-MUF standard solutions or a sample was added to a fluoroplate F96, and then 70 μL of the substrate solution was admixed. After reaction was allowed to proceed for one hour at 37° C., 200 μL of 50 mM glycine-NaOH buffer (pH 10.6) was added to each well as a reaction terminating solution, and the intensity of fluorescence was measured using fluoroplate reader under the condition of excitation at wavelength of 355 nm and detection at wavelength of 460 nm. A standard curve was produced based on the intensity of fluorescence from the 4-MUF standard solutions, and the activity (nmol/h/mL) of each sample was calculated by interpolating its fluorescence intensity into the standard curve. Measurement was carried out in duplicate and their mean value was taken as the value measured.

[Measurement of Amount of Cellular Uptake of GBA Using a Macrophage Cell Line NR8383]

Measurement of the amount of cellular uptake of GBA using macrophage cell line NR8383 was performed with reference to the method described in Zhu Y. et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 308, 705-11 (2004). NR8383 cells (rat alveolar macrophage-derived cell line, ATCC No. CRL-2192) were cultured in Kaighn's modification of Ham's F12 medium (F12K) containing 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Invitrogen). When the NR8383 cells became confluent, the medium was replaced with a F12K containing 32 μM Conduritol B Epoxide (CBE) (Calbiochem), and culture was continued overnight (not longer than 18 hours) to deactivate the intrinsic GBA of NR8383 cells. The cells were collected by centrifugation, washed three times with F12K medium containing 15% FBS, then suspended in 20 mL of a measurement medium (F12K medium containing 25 mM HEPES, pH 6.8, and 4 mg/mL fetal bovine serum), and cultured for 2.5 hours in a CO₂ incubator. The cells were divided into two parts, and centrifuged and collected, and one part of the cells was resuspended in 5 mL of the measurement medium, and the other in 5 mL of the measurement medium which was supplemented with 50 mg/mL mannose. The density of the cells here was adjusted to 1×10⁷ cells/mL, in both cases. These cell suspensions were dispensed into culture tubes by 190 μL each, and to them was admixed 10 μL each of the GBA sample so that predetermined final concentrations (mU/mL) of GBA were achieved, and shaking culture was performed for 2 hours at 37° C. A control was prepared by adding 10 μL of the measurement medium, instead of a GBA sample. After culture, the cells were collected by centrifugation, and washed three times with PBS containing 1 mg/mL mannan (Nacalai Tesque). Following further washing two times with PBS, the cells were lysed in 150 μL of a cell lysation solution [50 mM potassium phosphate, pH 6.5, 0.25% Triton X-100, 1× protease inhibitor cocktail (Roche)]. The GBA activity in the cell lysates thus obtained was measured according to the above-described method for GBA measurement. The amount of GBA taken up by the macrophage cells was determined as the value derived by subtracting the GBA activity measured with the cells cultured in the mannose-containing measurement medium from the GBA activity measured with the cells cultured in the measurement medium not containing mannose. As a result, it was revealed that the GBA obtained in the culture supernatant of the GBA expressing cells was hardly taken up by the NR8383 cells, whereas the GBA obtained in the culture supernatant of the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells was taken up by the NR8383 cells.

The amount of GBA taken up by the macrophage cells was expressed in its ratio to the control, taking the GBA activity with the control for 100% (i.e., % of the control). As a result, it was revealed that the GBA obtained in the culture supernatant of the GBA expressing cells was hardly taken up by the macrophage cells (FIG. 4: Graph 2), whereas the GBA obtained in the culture supernatant of the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells was taken up by the macrophage cells (FIG. 4: Graph 1). The GBA obtained in the culture supernatant of the GBA expressing cells and then altered so as to have mannose residues at the non-reducing ends of its sugar chains by treating it with sialidase (New England Biolabs), β1,4-galactosidase (New England Biolabs), and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (New England Biolabs), in sequence, was also taken up by the macrophage cells, as was the GBA obtained in the culture supernatant of the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 cells (FIG. 4: Graph 3). In the presence of mannose, GBA uptake by the macrophage was inhibited (FIG. 4: Graphs 4-6).

The above results demonstrate that the GBA expressed in the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells has mannose residues at the non-reducing ends of its sugar chains and is efficiently taken up by macrophage cells via mannose receptors on their cell membrane.

[Construction of SfFDL and BmFDL Expressing Plasmids]

SfFDL gene originating from Spodoptera frugiperda and BmFDL gene originating from Bombyx mori were chemically synthesized, in which their respective codons were optimized for CHO cells.

The nucleotide sequence of SfFDL gene is set forth as SEQ ID NO:9 and the amino acid sequence encoded by it as SEQ ID NO:10, respectively. In the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:9, nucleotides 1-6 corresponds to a MluI site, nucleotides 14-1909 to the SfFDL coding sequence, nucleotides 1910-1917 to a NotI site. Here, the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:10 is the amino acid sequence corresponding to the coding region of the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:9, and is identical to the amino acid sequence encoded by the native SfFDL gene.

The nucleotide sequence of the BmFDL gene is set forth as SEQ ID NO:11, and the amino acid sequence encoded by it as SEQ ID NO:12, respectively. In the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:11, nucleotides 1-6 corresponds to a MluI site, nucleotides 14-1909 to the BmFDL coding sequence, nucleotides 1910-1917 to a NotI site. Here, the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:12 is the amino acid sequence corresponding to the coding region of the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:11, and identical to the amino acid sequence encoded by the native BmFDL gene.

Each of the above genes was digested with MluI and NotI, and incorporated into a pUC57 vector which had been digested with MluI and NotI. Then, the SfFDL gene and the BmFDL gene were cut out from the corresponding pUC57 vector with MluI and NotI, and severally incorporated into the expression vector pE-hygr constructed above, between its MluI and NotI sites. The pE-hygr with the incorporated SfFDL gene was designated SfFDL gene expression plasmid (pE-hygr(Sf-FDL)), and the pE-hygr with the incorporated BmFDL gene was designated BmFDL gene expression plasmid (pE-hygr(Bm-FDL)).

[Introduction of SfFDL and BmFDL Genes into GBA Expressing Cells]

Into the GBA expressing cells was separately introduced either pE-hygr(Sf-FDL) or pE-hygr(Bm-FDL) by electroporation, and the cells were subjected to a selective culture in CD Opti CHO medium containing 200 μM hygromycin and 500 μg/mL G418, to provide GBA expression cells separately transformed with the SfFDL gene and the BmFDL gene.

[Selective Culture by Kidney Bean Lectin (PHA-L4 and PHA-E4)]

The transformant cells obtained by the above selective culture were cultured in CD Opti CH medium containing 12 μg/mL PHA-L4 (J Oil Mills) and 12 μg/mL PHA-E4 (J Oil Mills) to annihilate complex type sugar-expressing cells among the above transformed cells and make them aggregate, and non-aggregated cells were collected. The collected non-aggregated cells were designated GBA/Sf-FDL expression cells for those transformed with the SfFDL gene, and GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells for those transformed with the BmFDL gene.

[Analysis of Sugar chain Structure by SDS-PAGE]

Ten μL each of the culture supernatants of the GBA expressing cells, GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells, GBA/Sf-FDL expressing cells, and GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells were subjected to SDS-PAGE (10% gel), and after completion of the run, the protein was stained with Simply Blue Safe Stain (Invitrogen). In addition, the culture supernatants of the cells transformed with GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 gene, the cells transformed with GBA/Sf-FDL gene, and the cells transformed with GBA/Bm-FDL gene, all before treatment with kidney bean lectin, were also subjected to SDA-PAGE under the same condition.

Comparison of the migration patterns of the GBAs revealed that the GBAs contained in the culture supernatants of the GBA/Sf-FDL expressing cells and the GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells were identical with that of the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells (FIG. 5). Further, the migration pattern of the GBA contained in the cells transformed with the GBA/Sf-FDL gene and that of the cells transformed with the GBA/Bm-FDL gene, both before treatment with kidney bean lectin, also were partly identical with that of the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells (data not shown). The results indicate that the GBAs expressed in the GBA/Sf-FDL expressing cells and the GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells are those having mannose residues at the non-reducing ends of their sugar chains as are the GBA expressed in the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 cells. Further, the results indicates that SfFDL originating from Spodoptera frugiperda and BmFDL originating from Bombyx mori introduced into mammalian cells exhibit their activity in Golgi bodies and function as enzymes that remove, in the modification process of sugar chains of GBA, N-acetylgalactosamine residues occurring at the non-reducing ends of the sugar chains to alter the non-reducing ends to mannose residues, as does the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3. Thus the results indicate that SfFDL and BmFDL introduced and expressed in mammalian cells localize at the proper position of Golgi bodies and exhibit their activity therein.

[Measurement of Amount of Cellular Uptake of Glucocerebrosidase Obtained from Culture Supernatants of GBA/Sf-FDL Expressing Cells and GBA/Bm-FDL Expressing Cells]

GBA was purified from the respective culture media of the GBA/Sf-FDL expressing cells and the GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells by the purification method consisting of the above-described first and second processes. With the GBAs thus purified, amount of their cellular uptake was measured using a macrophage cell line NR8383 by the method described above. As shown in FIG. 6, it was revealed that the GBA obtained from the culture supernatants of the GBA/Sf-FDL cells (Graph 1) and from the culture supernatant of the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells (Graph 2) were taken up by the NR8383 cells at nearly the same level as the GBA obtained from the culture supernatant of the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 cells (Graph 3). Further, the efficacy of their cellular uptake was inhibited when mannan was added to the medium (Graphs 4-6). These results indicate that the GBAs expressed in the GBA/Sf-FD expressing cells and the GBA/Bm-FDL expressing cells have mannose residues at the non-reducing ends of their sugar chains and are efficiently taken up by macrophage cells via mannose receptors on their cell membrane, as does the GBA expressed in the GBA/AcGlcNAcase-3 expressing cells.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, recombinant glycoproteins having mannose residues at the end of its N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains can be provided using mammalian cells. Therefore, it enables one to easily and efficiently produce enzymes used, e.g., in enzyme replacement therapy of lysosomal storage diseases.

SEQUENCE LISTING FREE TEXT

-   SEQ ID NO:1: Primer Hyg-Sfi -   SEQ ID NO:2: Primer Hyg-BstX -   SEQ ID NO:3: Primer GBA-Mlu -   SEQ ID NO:4: Primer GBA-Not -   SEQ ID NO:5: Primer N-AGase5′-Sal -   SEQ ID NO:6: Primer N-AGase5′-Mlu -   SEQ ID NO:7: Primer N-AGase3′-Mlu -   SEQ ID NO:8: Primer N-AGase3′-Not -   SEQ ID NO:9: Artificial Sequence containing SfFDL CDS, bases 1-6:     MluI site, bases 14-1909: CDS for SfFDL, bases 1910-1917: NotI site -   SEQ ID NO:10: Synthetic Construct -   SEQ ID NO:11: Artificial Sequence containing BmFDL CDS, bases 1-6:     MluI site, bases 14-1909 CDS for BmFDL, bases 1910-1917: NotI site

SEQUENCE LISTING

-   GP149-PCT_ST25 

1. A transformant mammalian cell having an exogenous β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene introduced and allowed to express itself therein.
 2. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 1, wherein β-N-acetylglucosaminidase expressed following introduction of the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene exhibits the activity thereof in Golgi bodies.
 3. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 1, wherein the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene is of insect origin.
 4. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 3, wherein the insect is an insect of Lepidoptera.
 5. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 4, wherein the insect of Lepidoptera is Spodoptera frugiperda or Bombyx mori.
 6. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 5, wherein the β-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene is one or more genes selected from the group consisting of β -N-acetylglucosaminidase 1 gene, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3 gene, SfFDL gene, and BmFDL gene.
 7. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 1 having an exogenous gene encoding a predetermined glycoprotein further introduced and allowed to express itself so as to produced the predetermined glycoprotein.
 8. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 7, wherein the exogenous gene encoding the predetermined glycoprotein is a gene of human origin.
 9. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 8, wherein the gene of human origin is a gene encoding a lysosomal enzyme.
 10. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 9, wherein the lysosomal enzyme is selected from the group consisting of glucocerebrosidase, acid sphingomyelinase, lysosomal acid lipase, acid a-glucosidase, N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, α-L-iduronidase, α-galactosidase A, hexosaminidase, α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, α-mannosidase, and sialidase.
 11. The transformant mammalian cell according to claim 9, wherein the lysosomal enzyme is glucocerebrosidase.
 12. A method for production of a glycoprotein having N-glycosidic bond-linked sugar chains, wherein all or part of the non-reducing ends of the sugar chains comprise mannose residues, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) culturing the mammalian cell according to claim 1 in a medium to allow the glycoprotein be expressed, and (b) purifying the glycoprotein expressed in (a) above.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mammalian cell employed has an exogenous gene encoding a predetermined glycoprotein further introduced and allowed to express itself so as to produce the predetermined glycoprotein.
 14. The method for production according to claim 13, wherein the exogenous gene encoding the glycoprotein is a gene of human origin.
 15. The method for production according to claim 14, wherein the gene of human origin is a gene encoding a lysosomal enzyme.
 16. The method for production according to claim 15, wherein the lysosomal enzyme is selected from the group consisting of glucocerebrosidase, acid sphingomyelinase, lysosomal acid lipase, acid α-glucosidase, N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, α-L-iduronidase, α-galactosidase A, hexosaminidase, α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, α-mannosidase, and sialidase.
 17. The method for production according to claim 15, wherein the lysosomal enzyme is glucocerebrosidase. 